Shock absorbing vehicle

ABSTRACT

A car or motor vehicle having an undivided chassis with deformation zones therein and having means which can be deformed and destroyed. A plurality of at least two-part kinetic energy dissipating devices, in which the parts are displaceable one against another, are attached with their ends to respective ends of the deformation zones for bridging the latter. The energy dissipating devices consist mainly of push rods coaxially arranged with corresponding housings containing breaker plates which are pierced by the rods.

United States Patent Gerhard 51 June 20, 1972 [54] SHOCK ABSORBINGVEHICLE [72] Inventor: Otto Gerhard, Wohrdstrasse 95, 84

Regensburg, Germany [22] Filed: May 20, 1968 21 App]. No.: 730,496

[] Foreign Application Priority Data May 22, 1967 Germany ..G 501502,896,735 7/1959 Bohn ..180/92 2,900,036 8/1959 Blake..... ...296/65 X2,997,325 8/1961 Peterson .293/1 3,059,966 10/ 1 962 Spielman 297/2163,097,725 7/1963 Peterson 188/94 3,162,479 12/1964 Hewitt ..296/3,232,383 2/1966 Moberg 188/1 C 3,268,256 8/1966 Blank v.297/2163,369,634 2/1968 Sung...'... 296/35 3,367,709 2/1968 Mazelsky ..188/l CFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 267,209 3/ 1927 Great Britain ..293/30412,897 5/1925 Germany 854,157 10/1952 Germany 904,503 2/1954 Germany1,172,558 6/1964 Germany 1,208,208 12/ 1 965 Germany 1,237,453 3/1967Germany 1,743 ,253 4/ 1 957 Germany [56] References Cited 7 PrimaryExaminer-Arthur L. La Point UNTTED STATES PATENTS AssistantExaminer-Howard Beltran 1,637,152 7/1927 Kehrer ..293/84 y pa 0w an Spa3,226,146 12/1965 Behr ..293/3O 2,508,836 5/1950 Morris 293/72 XABSTRACT l 05 6,1951 Hlght 244/138 A car or motor vehicle having anundivided chassis with defor- 2'776695 1/ wens 188/1 X C mation zonestherein and having means which can be 766325 6/1930 Moorhouse' "248/9deformed and destroyed. A plurality of at least two-part l799'065 3,1931Rohm 293/86 kinetic energy dissipating devices, in which the parts aredis- [2,1948 Lacmtte "244/1 placeable one against another, are attachedwith their ends to 11860 8/1950 Forgy 180/91 x respective ends of thedeformation zones for bridging the 2,600,060 6/1952 Lopes et latter. Theenergy dissipating devices consist mainly of push 18 2/1953 Gunnels,rods coaxially arranged with corresponding housings contain- 2,81 1,38510/1957 Butler ..293/86 m breaker plates which are pierced by the rods.2,837,176 6/1958 Dropkin 188/1 C 2,880,815 4/1959 Apfelbaum /82 4Claims, 14 Drawing Figures a mm! a f f l5 111111111 11 3 s f 7PATENTEBJuuZO 1912 llllilllllllal! sum 2 or 3 INVENTORI Otto 61A,

b wmvma anA 5 Attorneys PATENTEnaunzo 1972 3, 571 ,068

sum 3 or s I Fig. /3

SHOCK ABSORBING VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The inventionrelates to devices for dissipation of kinetic energy of vehicles in caseof collisions thereof.

Manufacturers have in recent years developed certain safety featureswhich are intended to reduce the dangers incident to high speed impactsin order to protect the vehicle passengers. Automotive manufacturershave developed padded dashboards, padded sun-visors and seat belts whichare fastened about the waist of the passengers and restrain forwardmovement of the passengers in the event of a front end collision.Airplanes have also long been provided with safety belts torestrainpassenger movement in the event of a severe impact. 7 v

These safety features have had,'however,- only limited effectiveness.For example, in automotive application at reduced speeds, the safetyfeatures have provided the necessaryfactor to prevent serious or fatalinjury to the automobile passengers. However, at high speed impacts,these safety devices have proved ineffective, and passengers involved insuch accidents have suffered serious consequences. These undesirableresults exist by virtue of the fact thatin a high speedimpact orcollision, thevehicle is almost instantaneously decelerated to zerovelocity with the kinetic energy of the vehicle being absorbed bydeformation of the vehicle front end components causing the passengersto be thrown forward at a velocity approximating the vehicle speed priorto impact. The kinetic energy of the bodies of the passengers must beabsorbed to decelerate them along with the vehicle after impact. At veryhigh speeds even padded dashboards and safety belts are ineffective todecelerate the passengers at a reasonable rate and to absorb safely theshock of rapid deceleration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention the describeddisadvantages are avoided by providing a motor vehicle with devices forthe dissipation of kinetic impact energy, comprising, undivided chassisdeforrnation zones and at least two-part energy dissipating means, theparts of which are displaceable against one another, are attached forbridging the deformation zones endwise to the ends of the actualdeformation zone. If a car is involved' in an accident, push rods willenter a housing and pierce over a certain distance special plates whichare rigidly assembled in the axial direction of the housing and in thedirection of travelling. By these means kinetic energy can be dissipatedto the highest degree within a very short time. Accordingly, it is aprincipal object of the present invention to provide an improved safetyconstruction for vehicles, aircraft and other similar motor vehicles.

In a modification for dissipating of motion-energy fluid cylinders maybe provided in which in axial direction a hollow piston is guided in agland and in case of a crash enters into the cylinder, shifting forwardsthe liquid contained in the cylinder.

At the forward end of the latter the liquid is returned into it since ithas a somewhat larger diameter than the hollow piston, and during themovement the piston receives the receding liquid. Also at thisembodiment energy is continuously dissipated to a desired degree.Furthermore push rods may be mounted between clamps rigidly attached tothe chassis, and in case of a crash the rods under friction are pushed acertain distance into the clamps. The rods and clamps may be provided inmultiple units. Using these means further protecting units may beconstructed without affecting the outer appearance of the car.

The new arrangements and devices do not have to be very costly in viewof their high economic value, are well adaptable I for specific massesand velocities, that is, kinetic energies of various cars, can beprefabricated and are easily exchangeable.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages willclearly appear from the detailed description given below taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing which form part of thisspecification and illustrate merely by way of examples embodiments ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description and inthe claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience,but such names 'are'intended to be as generic in their application tosimilar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denotelike parts in the several figures of the drawings, in which FIG. 1 showsthe side-view of a passenger car with the nonretuming devices arrangedin the front and rear parts and the car structure.

FIG. 2 shows the front of a car with non-returning devices on thebumpers and chassis.

FIG. 3 shows the-plan view to FIG. land the connection of thedissipating devices at the front bumper of a car.

FIG. 4 shows the device at the front side with blunt push rods andspacer rings between plates.

FIG. 5 shows a device with a push rod with rounded point and with spacerrings between plates.

FIG. 5a shows a device similar to FIG."5 but with spacer rings bent upfrom the plates and with U-shaped section of the plates.

FIG. 6 shows a push rod in action at thestart of penetration into thehousing containing breaker plates.

FIG. 7 shows a stepped push rod with various diameters for multiplepenetration.

FIG. 8 shows a fully operated push rod after complete penetration of theplates.

FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of devices on a chassis of a car or on thewalls thereof coacting with operable parts and reinforced protectivecells. 7

FIG. 10 shows a push rod with a fluid cylinder.

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of an arrangement with devices on a bumper andwith push rods clamped by brackets and acting in friction contact.

FIG. 12 shows a plan view with flat push rods clamped by bracket platesand screws in friction contact.

FIG. 13 is a side view schematic of a passenger car showing the basicconcept of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the Figures one ormore non-resilient energydissipating devices 1 and 2 are mounted onbumpers 3 or on car structures 4 preferably in the front or rear areasas well as on the top and on the underside of the car in such a mannerthat rigid protection enclosures 5 are formed (FIG. 1 and 2). The energydissipating devices contain push rods 6 rigidly connected with thebumpers 3 or with exterior wall and frame structure 4 and disposed inhorizontal or slightly tilted position in the direction of travelingbefore a counter part of a housing 7, separately positioned in the sameaxial direction as rods 6. Housings 7 have selective cross sections andlengths (FIG. 1-3). Push rod 6 itself is guided at the adjacent frontside of the housing 7 at 7 (FIG. 4 and 5).

In case of a shock on the car the push rod 6 is caused by the inertia ofthe mass of the car to enter into housing 7 (FIG. 5, 6

and 8). As shown in FIG. 13, the energy dissipating means in the form ofthe rod and plates spans a deformable compartment C, which itselfabsorbs some energy during impact by crumpling as shown in dotted lines.

Inside housing 7, plates or discs 8 are rigidly connected with thehousing, arranged in the direction of the length of the housing, andserve as break plates and penetration elements.

They are punctured by the push rod 6 along the stroke a thereof and inthis manner dissipate the kinetic energy. There is effected either apunching work by blunt push rods or by penetrating, stretching andfriction work by push rods rounded at their point (FIG. 1 6 and 8). Thedesign of push rods 6 and housings 7 with regard to penetration stroke aand length 17 of the housing is influenced in view of the energies to bereceived and dissipated so that it may be possible to prefabricatestandardized structures for selected forces. Thereby the requiredthicknesses c of the plates and their mutual distances d result, whichmay vary in one case as well as the number of plates built into housing7 over the length b thereof (FIG. 4).

The plates 8 in housing 7 are arranged substantially at right angles tothe longitudinal direction so that between the rear part 15 and bottom13 a spacer ring 14 may be inserted, which is rigid at the push rod sideof the housing and which is centrally guiding the push rod 6. Spacerring 14 has a selected thickness d and a plate 8, assembled together,and the housing 7 is closed at the rear end thereof by a cover 15pressing together all plates and spacer rings (FIG.

The distance between the plates may be secured by the upward bending oftheir outer edges at the circumference thereof, to the distance d (FIG.5a).

Push rods 16 with staggered diameters at their working end or graduallyincreasing from small to larger penetrating sections multiply therequired penetrating force. The same plates 8 are therefore successivelypenetrated over the smallest distances by gradually increasing crosssections.

In this manner along the travel a, a continuous penetration work isattained and thereby more motion energy is dissipated than with pushrods which do not have increasing diameters. (FIG. 7).

On the walls of the car, at the top and at the bottom, particularly atjunction points between the exterior walls 4 forming the deformationzone and the reinforced walls of protection cells enclosure 5 (FIG. 9)dissipation devices are aligned at distances e in series and are alsoacting against one another.

According to the invention a plurality of devices may be connected inseries, which in rapid succession or in uninterrupted continuous changeare operated, the effective travel a being increased by additionaltravel f (FIG. 1) in order to multiply the maximum travel and thedissipation of motion energy during the entire time of deceleration. Thepush rods 22 are arranged for this case at housing 7.

Interconnected deformation zones 23 (marked in the drawing bycross-hatching) in the car structure are provided together with similardevices acting one against another. Push rods 24 and 25 and double-endedhousings 26 are attached at the reinforced enclosure 5 and at the weakerdeformation zone 23, in order to dissipate the motion energy occuring inthese areas and to protect and maintain the passenger protectionenclosure 5 (FIG. I).

A further modification is shown in FIG. modifying the non-returningdissipation of motion energy by providing a For better effect thediameter of the cylinder g is made somewhat larger than that of thehollow piston 31. In the return line 29 a valve 30 is disposed for thecontrol of the fluid. The returning fluid is received by hollow piston31 (FIG. 10).

A further modification of the devices based only on friction is shown byFIG. 11. In this case push rods 6, 6' are fastened between clamps 32attached to the car and will dissipate the energy by friction along thetravel a.

It is furthermore possible to provide a plurality of push rods 6, 6fastened together by multiple-clamps 34 in order to multiply thefriction force. A similar effect is obtained according to FIG. 12 byflat rodlike supports 35 guided within slots or notches and for thenecessary friction engagement by means of plates 36 and counter plates37 bolted together by screws 38. The friction engagement is adjustableby the screws 38.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect tocertain preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principleof the invention, that various other changes and modifications may bemade without departing from t e spirit and scope of the invention, andit is intended therefor in the appended claims to cover all such changesand modifications.

I claim:

1. A vehicle protection arrangement comprising, in combination, a rigidreinforced enclosure, at least one rigid deformable kinetic energyabsorbing compartment adjacent to and attached to said enclosure, andbreakable energy dissipating means spanning said energy absorbingcompartment and directly connected to said enclosure, said energydissipating means comprising rod means movable toward said enclosureupon impact, and breakable plate means in the path of motion of said rodmeans and adapted to be pierced by said rod means when said rod meansmoves against said plate means, the breakage of said plate means by saidrod means and deformation of said compartment dissipating the kineticenergy of the impact.

2. The passenger protection arrangement as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid rod means and said breakable plate means comprises a plurality ofpush rods and a plurality of breakable plate assemblies, each push rodcooperating with one breakable plate assembly, said push rods andbreakable plate assemblies being arranged in series combination.

3. The passenger protection arrangement as defined in claim 1 includingspace means for spacing and separating said breakable plate means, saidbreakable plate means comprising a plurality of breakable plates. 7

4. The passenger protection arrangement as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid spacer means comprises a bent portion of said breakable plate, saidbent portion being integral with the exterior rim of said plate.

1. A vehicle protection arrangement comprising, in combination, a rigidreinforced enclosure, at least one rigid deformable kinetic energyabsorbing compartment adjacent to and attached to said enclosure, andbreakable energy dissipating means spanning said energy absorbingcompartment and directly connected to said enclosure, said energydissipating means comprising rod means movable toward said enclosureupon impact, and breakable plate means in the path of motion of said rodmeans and adapted to be pierced by said rod means when said rod meansmoves against said plate means, the breakage of said plate means by saidrod means and deformation of said compartment dissipating the kineticenergy of the impact.
 2. The passenger protection arrangement as definedin claim 1 wherein said rod means and said breakable plate meanscomprises a plurality of push rods and a plurality of breakable plateassemblies, each push rod cooperating with one breakable plate assembly,said push rods and breakable plate assemblies being arranged in seriescombination.
 3. The passenger protection arrangement as defined in claim1 including space means for spacing and separating said breakable platemeans, said breakable plate means comprising a plurality of breakableplates.
 4. The passenger protection arrangement as defined in claim 3wherein said spacer means comprises a bent portion of said breakableplate, said bent portion being integral with the exterior rim of saidplate.